Centrifugal separating apparatus

ABSTRACT

Centrifugal separating apparatus comprises a rotatable drum formed from at least two axially-spaced parts. The adjacent portions of adjacent parts have frusto-conical walls which cooperate to define a chamber which receives a component separated in the drum. The adjacent edges of the parts comprise lips of a deformable material which bound an outlet opening from the chamber. The lips are associated with means for selectively closing the opening, for example by moving the lips together.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS y-spaced parts.

acent' parts have frustorate to define a chamber hich receives acomponent separated in the drum.

The adjacent edges of the are associated with means for selectivelyclosing the opening, for example by [451 July 16, 1974 3,404,833 10/19683,409,215 11/1968. Reuter..............................

1,123,042 6/1956 621,908 11/1935 Germany...........................

Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney, Agent, or FirmClelle W.Upchurch [57] ABSTRACT Centrifugal separating apparatus comprises arotatable drum formed from at leasttwo axiall The adjacent portions ofadj conical walls which co-o parts comprise lips of a deformablematerial which bound an outlet opening from the chamber. The lips RobertLoison, Residence des Presidanes 54, Avenue de Verdun 78, Croissy surSeine, France Apr. 5, 1973 Foreign Application Priority Data 7 Apr. 21,1972 Francew... 72.14284 U.S. 233/20 R, 233/27 [51] Int. B04b 1/14233/19 R, 19 A, l R, 20 R, 233/20 A, 47 R References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS United States Patent [191 Loison CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATINGAPPARATUS [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 348,095

[58] Field of Search......

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l CENTRIFU G AL SEPARATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION as toprovide a circular outlet opening from the drum.

In this previously proposed apparatus, the parts of the centrifugingdrum are made of a rigid material and the mechanism for displacing theparts of the drum is very complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided in centrifugal separating apparatus, a rotatable drum, saiddrum comprising at least two parts, said parts having frusto-conicalwalls which co-operate to define a chamber to receive 'a componentseparated in the drum, the adjacent edges of the parts being spaced todefine a circular outlet opening from the chamber, the said edgescomprising two lips of a deformable material, and means co-operatingwith the lips to bring the lips selectively into an open or a closedposition.

According to the present invention, there is also provided incentrifugal separating apparatus, a rotatable drum, said drum comprisingat least two axially-spaced annular parts, the adjacent portions of theadjacent parts of the drum being shaped to define a chamber in theperipheral portion of the drum, and the adjacent parts being axiallyspaced to define an outlet from the chamber, and a lip on each saidpart, the lips lying on opposite sides of the opening and being formedfrom a deformable material, and means associated with the lips toselectively block the opening.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. is a fragmentary longitudinalsection .of a modified form of drum; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of another form of centrifugalseparating apparatus in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The centrifugal separatingapparatus shown in FIG.

1 has a drum comprising two parts 1 and 2 made of a relativelydeformable material. One of the parts, 1, is reinforced externally bybands 3 and 4,- preferably metal bands, and the two parts 1 and 2 haveat their end portions metal rings -5 and 6 rotatably mounted in supportmembers 11 and 12 by means of ball bearings 9 and 10.

The material to be treated (for example a liquid) is introduced throughaninlet 13 into the drum and is subjected therein to the action ofcentrifugal force which causes separation into an outer layer of arelatively heavy component, and an inner layer of a relatively lightercomponent. 1

The inner layer is withdrawn from the drum in the direction of the arrowA, through an outlet 14 whereas the outer layer consisting for exampleof a sediment or a different liquid accumulates in a peripheral chamber15 defined by frusto-conical walls 7 and 8 of the parts 1 and 2 of thedrum. N

The parts 1 and 2 are joined together by a plurality of screws 16provided with nuts 17 and distributed around the periphery of the parts:spacers 18 are interposed between the parts 1 and2 so as to define acircular outlet opening 19 for the passage of the component accumulatingin the chamber 15. The opposing edges 20 and 21 of the parts 1 and 2have extensions in the form of deformable annular lips 22 and 23 whichconsist of the same materialas the parts 1 and 2 and which are mouldedintegrally with those parts. The lips 22 and 23 are provided withgrooves 24 andcan lie in a spaced configuration (as shown in FIG. 1) orin a configuration in which they are in contact so as to block or closethe circular opening 19.

The lips 22 and 23 are fast with annular members 25 and 26 respectively,the members 25 and 26 consisting of soft iron and constituting armaturescapable of being attracted by cores 27 and 28 of annular coils 29 and 30when the coils are energised by the passage of an electric current. Whenthe. members 25 and 26 are attracted by the cores of the coils 29 and 30as indicated by the arrows F and F the lips 22 and 23 come into contactand cause the circular opening 19 to be closed.

I In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the lips 22 and 23 are located inrigid housings 31 and 32, preferably of metal, and rods 33 and 34 ofelectromagnets 35 and 36 are adapted to urge the housings 31 and 32towards each other when the electromagnets are connected to a source ofelectric current, whereby to close the opening 1.9.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, one of the lips, 22, is fixed andlocated in a rigid housing 37 whereas the other lip, 23, is providedwith a deformable portion 38 which enables the lip 23 to be displaced bymeans of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 39 of which the actuating rod40 is rigid with a housing 41 fixed to the periphery of the lip 23. Thecylinder 39 acting in the.

direction of the arrow F causes the lip 23 to contact the lip 22 so asto close the circular opening 19. The relative moe'rnent-of the lips 22and 23 can alternatively be effected by entirely mechanical means,for'example by cams. a

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the lips are deformable and arefixed in position, the-outer edges of the lips contacting a slidableannular member 44 having apertures 45 adapted to permit dischargethrough the circular opening when the apertures 45 are aligned with theopening.

In order to provide rigidity for the structure, housings 46 and 47 aremounted on screws 16 on each side of the lips.

- In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the drum comprises a plurality ofparts 48a, 48b, 48c and 48d of which the walls define a plurality ofperipheral chambers 49a, 49b and 49c having corresponding outletopenings 50a, 50b and 50c. The outlet openings are bounded by deformableannular lips 51 and 52 associated with one of the means described above.

In the embodiments particularly described the drum is made of a plasticsmaterial, and the lips are formed integrally therewith; the drum can,however, be made of metal to which lips made of deformable material areattached. v

The drum is preferably driven by a-linear motor 53 (FIG. 1) whichco-operates with a metal disc 54 rigid with the ring 5 provided at theend of the part 1. Alternatively, the drum can be driven by aconventional motor through a suitable transmission.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the drum is rtatable about a verticalaxis and is closed at its bottom 55. The material to be treated isintroduced through an upper inlet 56 by means of a vertical duct 57which leads to the bottom part of the drum. After a centrifugalseparating action has been effected one of the components of thematerial (this component itself being a liquid) is evacuated throughorifices 58 provided inthe periphery of the upper part 2 of the drum.

What is claimed is:

1. In centrifugal separating apparatus a rotatable drum, said'drumcomprising at least two parts, said parts having frusto-conical wallswhich cooperate to define a chamber to receive a component separated inthe drum, the adjacent edges of the parts being spaced from each otherto deflnea circular outletopening from the chamber therebetween, thesaid-edges comprismg two lips of a deformable material about the saidopening, and means cooperating with the lips to bring the lipsselectively together or apart to open or close said opening.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim '1, wherein the said parts of the drumare formed of a plastics material, and the lips are integral with therespective parts.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprisbands, said bandsreinforcing the said parts of the drum.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for bringing thelips into an open or closed position comprises a soft-iron member fastwith each lip, and

annular coil means arranged between each said softiron member and itsassociated lip, each said annular coil means including a core,energisation of the coil means being operative to cause attraction ofthe soft. iron members towards the vcores whereby the lips are movedtogether to close the opening. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the said means for bringing the lips into an open or closedposition comprises a'plurality of electromagnets arranged around thedrum, said electromagnets including actuator rods, the actuator rodscontacting the lips upon energisation of the electromagnets whereby tomove the lips together to close the opening.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the lips is fixed,and the means for bringing the lips into an open or closed positioncomprises fluid-operated means for moving the other lip.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein one of the lips is fixed andthe means for bringing the lips into an open or closed positioncomprises electromagnetic means for moving the other lip.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drum comprises more thantwo said parts which co-operate to form a plurality of said chambers andassociated openings.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising linear motormeans operative to drive the drum. I 10. In centrifugal separatingapparatus a rotatable drum, said drum comprising I at least twoaxially-spaced annular parts, the adjacent portions of the adjacentparts of the drum being shaped to define a chamber in the peripheralportion of the drum, and the adjacent parts being axially spaced todefine an outlet from the chamber, and a. lip on each said part, thelips lying on opposite sides of the opening and being formed from adeformable'material, and a means associated with the lips to selectivelyblock the opening. I

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the said means associatedwith the lips comprises an annular member surrounding the lips, saidmember having outlet apertures and being slidable to move the aperturesselectively into, and out of,

' communication with the opening.

12. A centrifuge comprising a housing divided into two parts whichcombine to enclose a frusto-conically shaped chamber, means for addingto the chamber a material to be separated by centrifugal force, anannular flange about an end of each of said parts, the flange of onepart being disposed in spaced face-to-face relation-with the flange ofthe other part, means for securing the flanges together in said spacedface-to-face relationship, a deformable member carried by each of theflanges and disposed with respect .to eachother to define an outletthrough which one of the components of the material separated by thecentrifuge is discharged, said'deformable members being adapted to bealternately pressed into contact with each other to close the saidoutlet and released to open the outlet, and means for pressing thedeformable members together to close the outlet.

1. In centrifugal separating apparatus a rotatable drum, said drumcomprising at least two parts, said parts having frusto-conical wallswhich cooperate to define a chamber to receive a component separated inthe drum, the adjacent edges of the parts being spaced from each otherto define a circular outlet opening from the chamber therebetween, thesaid edges comprising two lips of a deformable material about the saidopening, and means cooperating with the lips to bring the lipsselectively together or apart to open or close said opening. 2.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said parts of the drum areformed of a plastics material, and the lips are integral with therespective parts.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprisingbands, said bands reinforcing the said parts of the drum.
 4. Apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for bringing the lips into anopen or closed position comprises a soft-iron member fast with each lip,and annular coil means arranged between each said soft-iron member andits associated lip, each said annular coil means including a core,energisation of the coil means being operative to cause attraction ofthe soft iron members towards the cores whereby the lips are movedtogether to close the opening.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the said means for bringing the lips into an open or closedposition comprises a plurality of electromagnets arranged around thedrum, said electromagnets including actuator rods, the actuator rodscontacting the lips upon energisation of the electromagnets whereby tomove the lips together to close the opening.
 6. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein one of the lips is fixed, and the means for bringingthe lips into an open or closed position comprises fluid-operated meansfor moving the other lip.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinone of the lips is fixed and the means for bringing the lips into anopen or closed position comprises electromagnetic means for moving theother lip.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drumcomprises more than two said parts which co-operate to form a pluralityof said chambers and associated openings.
 9. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising linear motor means operative to drive thedrum.
 10. In centrifugal separating apparatus a rotatable drum, saiddrum comprising at least two axially-spaced annular parts, the adjacentportions of the adjacent parts of the drum being shaped to define achamber in the peripheral portion of the drum, and the adjacent partsbeing axially spaced to define an outlet from the chamber, and a lip oneach said part, the lips lying on opposite sides of the opening andbeing formed from a deformable material, and means associated with thelips to selectively block the opening.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim10, wherein the said means associated with the lips comprises an annularmember surrounding the lips, said member having outlet apertures andbeing slidable to move the apertures selectively into, and out of,communication with the opening.
 12. A centrifuge comprising a housingdivideD into two parts which combine to enclose a frusto-conicallyshaped chamber, means for adding to the chamber a material to beseparated by centrifugal force, an annular flange about an end of eachof said parts, the flange of one part being disposed in spacedface-to-face relation with the flange of the other part, means forsecuring the flanges together in said spaced face-to-face relationship,a deformable member carried by each of the flanges and disposed withrespect to each other to define an outlet through which one of thecomponents of the material separated by the centrifuge is discharged,said deformable members being adapted to be alternately pressed intocontact with each other to close the said outlet and released to openthe outlet, and means for pressing the deformable members together toclose the outlet.